Insect-destroying device



Jan. 3, 1928. 1,654,783

. W. C. BLANKS ET AL INSECT DESTROYING DEVICE Filed April 20, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inc/e jfowaraizilig 6 Jan. 3, 1928. 1,654,783

W. C. BLANKS ET AL INSECT DESTROYING DEVICE Filed April 20. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 7260715. W an/6s, flwardf -75ra W 2%.

Ja rfi. 3, 1928.

1,654,783 W. C. BLANKS ET AL INSECT DESTROYING DEVICE Filed April 20, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 jwardra 6Z6;

' Jan. 3, 1928.

w. c. BLANKS T AL INSECT DESTROYING DEVICE Filed April 20. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inge/Wi ard fizz/ardf Patented Jan. 3,1928.

UNITED STATE i 1,654,783- PA E O E.-

WILLIAM. C. BLANKs, or AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND HOWARD sNYnEnANnJoHN'.

f 'mIKnLAsEK, or NEWTON, IOWA; SAID s nnn AND SAID MIKULASEK ASSIGNORS j r0 THE MAYTAG COMPANY, OF NEWTON, iovvA; A conronA'rroN or MAINE.

iNsnor-nnsrnoylns DEVICE.

Application filed April 20, 1923-. Serial No. 633,353.

g The present invention relates to devices for destroyinginsects, parasites," etc. on plants, such as boll weevils, on cotton plants. l

Among the objects of the invention is to construct a devicewhich may be moved over the ground andgrowing plants and capable r of removing and destroying insect parasites attached or clinging to the plants inorder .to save theplants from destruction by the insects; to provide a construction which-will substantially enclose the plants during the operation of the destroying device whereby the insects may 'bejcompletely removed and destroyed and prevented from escaping; "to providethe destroyer with a suction means or. device, preferably of the fan type and also preferably located on the destroying device transversely of the support-or frame thereof and also between thewheels of the destroyer in orderthat the path of theexhausting air' may be as short and direct as possible and also as proximate as possibleto the hood; to provide a hood with means such-that the hood may be close to the ground so that the rush of air will be through a relatively narrow space oropening between the top surface of the ground and the bottom or lower edges of thehood and in vorder that 1 there may beno way of escape for the insects; to'provide a hood with doors,prefer.- ably at the ends of the hood, to permit the easy entry of theplants into thehood as the hood. is made topass'over the plants, .the

doors preferably beingqweighted, orpendutf' lously hung so that theywill automatically close by their inherent weightandconfine the plants within the interior of the hood during the exhausting operation therein; to provide the hoodwith means, such as side wings on a door to prev'ent the inrush of air into the hood other thanthe space between the bottom of the hood and'the top surface of the ground; to provide means for movably supporting the hoodron the destroyer so that the hood may be held in adjustedv height with respect to the ground in order to accommodate the proper operation of the device over ground of varying contour, such as when the wheels run in furrows running along the s des of a row or lineofhills'containing the plants, or the plants of different heights, the hood beingfraised or lowered,

' respectively, for tall or shortplants, when it is desired toeffectively operate on-thel heads or buds tr theplants; to provide a device ;with means; for lifting and holding in lifted position, the hood clear fromfthe ground, obstructions on the ground, and plants, when the destroyer is being trans-.

ported from one place of operation to,

another; to provide,-preferably, a hinged or pivotal connection between the hood and the supporting frame of the destroyer, whereby the hood may swing upwardly and down wardly aboutsuch connection, the hood being ally connected thereto; to provide the suction device with, preferably, bolts for rigidly connecting it tothe axle of the destroyer,

and also preferably rigidlyconnecting the supporting frame to the suction device whereby the suction device is made a rigid part of the support, thus eliminating the necessity of extra frame work'or structure and considerably simplifyingthe device in gen I I eral; to provide an adjustable, preferably a slidable, connection-between the inlet, of the suction-device or fan and the outlet 'of the V hood, whereby the adjustment of-height of the hood will not destroy the connection: between the fan and the hood; to provide the fan and hoo'd,ipreferably at-the connection therebetween, with means such as cooperating sliding members or flanges,-to-maintain the connection substantially sealed at all tiinesand at all relative positions of the fan and head, against inrush of airrinto the hood or fan, thus maintaining the efficiency of; the

so A

exhausting action of the fan and in the hood;

to provide suchadjustableconnections, preferably, with curved or are shaped cooper-" ating, slidable members whichjare' formed upon an arcgenerated about the axis of the hinge orv pivotal connection between rathehooddraw bars and the forward end of the" frame: toprovide the hood with baflle bars} located in the hood, preferably having means for adjustably locating the bars at different heights inorder that theymayhit' against the heads of the plants of different heights for the purpose of dislodging .the, insects clingingto the plants; to'provide, Within the hood, agitators capable ofstrikingv against the plants as the hood passes over them, toflj shake the whole plant or the branches there? of, also to dislodge the insects therefrom,.the

agitators .being preferably continually operated byineans carried by the hood and including a wind mill located within the hood in the path of flow of air from the interior of the hood to the fan, thus necessitating no additional operating or driving mechanism from the source of power, which, in this case, may be an internal combustion engine having driving connection with the fan only; to provide a fan, preferably at and near the discharge portion thereof, with air escapesor ports for the readyrelief'of the compressed air and for creating no back pressure upon the fan operating mechanism, the ports being preferably screened to prevent the escape of the insects before they are thoroughly destroyed; to provide the discharge outlet of the fan with a bafiie member, preferably in the form of a screen located at an inclined angle'opposite the discharge, so that the insects may be hurled against the bafile screen and killed, the stream of air being permitted to easily escape-through the'baftle; to provide, if desired, means at the discharge end of the fan for attaching a collecting containersuc'h as a sack, for catchingthe insects after they have been hurled against the bafHe screen and destroyed, although, if desired, the sack may be dispensed with and the annihilated insects permitted to drop to the ground; and to provide for such other and further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed by the invention.

Inthe drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side view of the destroyer; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the hood of the destroyer; Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the destroyer, showing the general construction of the fan, hood, and wind-mill; F ig.4 is a top plan view of the destroyer; Fig. 5 is a rear end view of the device; and Fig. 6- is a detail, partly in section, 'of the pivotal means for operating the agitators within the hood.

Referring now more-particularly to the drawing, theinvention is shown comprising wheels 1, rotatably carried upon the ends of an axle 2, rigidly bolted to a head 3 of a suction device or fancasing 4, by means of bolts 5. A frame, comprising frame side bars 6 and 7 is secured to the side of the fan casing l; as by means of projections S extending into the channels of the side memberso and 7 and bolts or screws fastening the side 1 members 6 and 7 to the heads 3 and 9 of the casing device. The side frame members 6 and? extend and converge forwardly where they are connected together and provided with suitable means for connection to a tractor or team of horses-for drawing the destroying device over the ground. At the rear end of the frame is connected a platform 10 uponwhich maybe mounted a source of power, such as an internal combustion engine 11 having the shaft 12 thereof extending into the suction device and provided at its end with a fan, 13, so located within the suction device as tocreate a suction through an opening 14 of the fan casing and to discharge the drawn air-upwardly into the discharge passage or housing 15, upon the upper portion of the suction device. The other end of the shaft 12 may carry suitable fly wheel 16.

The side members 6 and 7 and the axle2 may be connected-by suitable brace members or r odslt' and 1-7. y

The suction CleVlCOCOlDP1'1S6S a forward head?) and a rearhead} with an interposed v housing member 18. The heads may be see' cured to thehousing of the suction device in any suitable manner. as by 'means of bolts.

The forwar-d 'head 9 is provided with an openings being )i'eferab l y provided with screens in order to prevent the escape of the insects, although permitting the ready escape of the air discharged from the fan 13. The discharge member has an opening 22 through which the main stream of air is discharged. Opposite this openlng is pivotally supported andiitting closely between ltlt) a. battle screen 23, preferably at an angle, 7

opposite such opening, so that as the stream of air with the insects is discharged against the screen 23, the insects will, by reason of their impact with the screen, be annihilated or killed. and caused todrop downwardly,

either to the ground or into-a container attached to the end 22, and'also permitting the air to-readily escape through the screen 23.

It will be noted thatthe suction device is located transversely of the frame of the destroyer and also between the wheels 1,

whereby a compact andsimple device is pro vide'd. It will alsobe'noted that the frame, the suction device andthe aide form together a single, rigid'construction, the suction device forming a of the destroye part'of the supporting means Forwardly of the suction device and suit ably connected to it is a gathering and suction hood 24, having a pair of vertical side lit) walls and 26 extending downwardly with their lower edges proximate to the ground-27, and witlrupwardly extending wall portions 28 and 29, the latter forming a housing for a ane or wind-millBO connected to a transverse shaft 31 rotatably mounted in the side walls of the housing 2%. At the rear of the hood is also formed an upwardly extending portion 32 together with a'curved or tubular portion- 33-aeting asee hi'aee meniber between;

theside walls of the upper 'pe rt of the h'ood and the side wallof 'the th 'oat oi the hood fol" directing the upward flow of airthei'e between and'thewalls 28 toward-the outlet 34-01 thehood and the inlet 1% of the suction device. The forward" end .ot the hood-hes tie-red portions '01 wells extending into :1; widened portion 36;, forming the" entry mouthofthe hood tor the plant's as the hood is" caused to move CV61 the plants or along itrow of plants; At the forward end of the hood and between the-side walls 36 tl'ei e'ot is pivot-ally mounted a door'37 preferably provided atits lower'end with a weight 38.- This door is adapted to open 'inwai'dl 'y' and totliedotted' line position shown in'l ig. 3 ot the drawing and in direction of the arrow also shown on that ti 'ui'e when-the door comesin contact with plants to permitthe plants to 'enter llliO the hood, and the door,

by reason of its own-weight. isca-pable ofWings 40 located closely to the side fwnils 25= and26ofthe"hood so that-the side wings will act 'continuiilly to seal; the opening betweenthe door 39and the rear end; of the hood at alltiines and in allpositions ofppernngot the doorflso as to prevent; such. mrushf of air.

'The hoodl'is suspended from the mine toy.

movement in substantially vertical dii ec I tion to and tr'omthe-giound. 'Toiaccomplish operation to anothen it is ns-ually desirahleto raise the hoodout of proximity to the.

- this the hood isrigidly connected to': a pair. of draw bars 41', pivotally connected loi:

(see.F1g.'1')- of the insects desti oylngdevice; Near the rear end of the hood are connected, tit each side of thehood, chains 43, the upperend'ot the chains beihgsuiteblly connected in enediustable manner to the side harsh and 7 of the-traine'.. It will thus be seen when it is desired to raise or lowerthe hoodiwith respect to the ground at any desiredheight the length ot't'he' chain 43may be'varied or connected to the holtsor hooks on the side bars so that the hood will. he at the'desn-ed or given distance iroinithe ground.

VVhenlthe hood is not use end to he transported togetherwith the i'einaindee ot the destroying device ti'oni one place of ground so that it may not strike'obstruetions on the way, plants or the like. and for this reason; the devlce 1873150 p'i'ovided'with a hitingi means, comprisinga hsnchlevei' body pilmtnllyconnected to. theitopi ot-the suotion- A-t' the i'eni f'e 11d of the hood into the passage leading: from deyice and -con nect'ed by tnlinlt to-the side otthe hood, the links-4E5 being-pnetenably pivotall yconnectedtothehood. 'It I be noted that when the hand} leye' isope ed (seeFig. l-)- frorn thetull line p'ositionto:

in r Y the dotted-line position shown in the-figui-e I the hood end the parts connected;thereto? may be raised from the tilll 'line' position to t-l1 e *(lotteclline position shown't henein; In this way it-will' be seen thatfthehoodis clean ot the ground and the desti o yei inary' he" transported from one place of operation to another without the hood coming in contact with projections on the'gi ound oi Withgnow ing'plantsf r I In or-dei' that the hood may re1nein continua.lly' connected with the] suction;- device at all times without a loreakoccurringi be--' tween the outlet of the hood and the li'i'let. of the suction device, both the hood zm'd-the;

suction device are pro ided -withcooperating flange members 46', 4:7, suitably seeuned'on attached to the'hood and the suction?device,

respectively; hese 1nembers are shape'd in:

the form of a curve ovate-generated. about an RXIS passingthrou'gh the pivoton-hingei connection-between the drawhars ll and the? tongue -12. 'lhelength-of the fle-nges is sucln that asthe flangefl li ls-caused to slideioveif the flange 46 when the hood is raised and lowered there will he continue l cont'actgthus preventing any break between} the; outlet will also be seen that "the side walls at the outlet 34 of the hood extend'i int clbse pron imity to the side walls on flangesli) and it) and the inlet 14 e txsiny adjhsted position j of the hoodl'eletive to' the: suction device- It' 3 so zis t'o prevent any leterall intush of: air

the h'ood" into the suction device. It will be noticed that theside walls25: and 26- of the hOodDQA: slide-between the laterally extending flanges 19 ofithe"fan' casing- In this manner when the hood 24:

is raised: onl'o-wened the hood? will; slide upwerdly and: make ati'icti'onwfit. on its side:

Vent the" air: from entering-the hood? at the? flange 20 of thecasingwvhen' the hood is raised, the hood is provided with eninweirdly extending? hoi-lzontal fiange 24.

which is adapted to; act upon the horizontal flange 20" of the casing; In such a constituc tionz-t-he hood can; raiseand lower relatively .to the. casing of the em: and at 'the siime",

time Willlmake a suhstantiall ite-in tightjoint therewith. The joint'betweenzthe flanges 20'' andaQdf is merely a sliding frictional. disc;

VVi-thin the hood; at a relatively elevated position, is located? s: bathe. bar: 48% provided with anumher otteeth. 49; This banmey'be' adjustabl'y connected or: located inplace,

within: the. hood in any pair of znnomben ot-. suitable apertures provided 11nt-l1eside walls ot the hood; This eel-sis so looated that it comes in contact with the heads of plants will hit against the forward doorg87,

the plants from whichcthe insects are to be shaken as the hood is passed over the plant. If the plants are tall the baffle bars and rake teeth 49 will be locatedat a higher position, and when the plants are lower the bar may be located at a lower position.

i In the lower portion of the hood near the lower opening or mouth thereof, is also located a set of agitators or striker bars 51, which are connected at their forward ends to pivotal members 52, as by means of a screw 53. These pivotal members are mounted upon adjustable pivot pins 54, secured in the flared wall portion 35 of the hood, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the dr'aw ing. The pivotal member 52 has an outwardly extending arm 55 to the outer end' of which is connected a link rod 56, the other end of the rod being connected to a crank 57.

secured to the end of the shaft 31 of the wind-mill 30. As the wind-mill is caused to rotate by reason of the stream or flow of air from the interior of the hood towards the suction device, the link 55- is caused to reciprocate and to oscillate the pivotal member 52, 'This will cause an agitating action or motion of the agitator bars or rods 51 within the hood. These bars strike against the plants, particularly the stalks of the plants, and their branches, and possibly the heads of the plants, if, the plants are short. These bars. will so shake the plants as to loosen or dislodge the insects so that the upward draft or flow of air through the hood will catch the insects and draw them into the suction device.

It will also be noted that the adjustment of the height of the hood is of utility to bring the lower edge of the hood close to the ground, preferably within one inch of the surface of the ground, so that the only space for access of air into the hood is through the space provided between the top surface of the ground and the lower edges of the hood. This upward draft of air is drawn upwardly-around the plants towards the upper part of the hood and into the suction device, the. drawn air and insects being impelled by the fan blade 13 toward the discharge outlet 22. If the wheels 1 of the destroyer ride in furrows on each side of a hill of plants, the hood may be adjusted upwardly so as to be still close to the ground as before.

In operation the destroyer is drawn by any suitable means suchas a tractor or team of horses, or other method, along rows of plants, preferably cotton plants, with the wheels running on opposite sides of the row; the internal combustion engine is set in operation, the hood adjusted so that its lower edge will be close to the ground, and the end doors in closed position. As the destroyer proceeds toward the plants, the

causing the door to swing-upwardly and rearwardly so as to permit the entry of the plants into the lower portion of thehood. In the meanwhile the draft of air being created upwardly. through-the hood will cause an operation of the wind-mill 30 and an agitation of the agitator bars 51. As

the'plants pass through the widened portion 36 of the hood, and against the converging sides 35, the. plants are crowded toward the narrower portion of the hood between the agitator bars 51. The bars will then hit against the stalks; of the plants and cause them to be shaken so as to loosen the insects from the plants, particularly the headsof the plants. If there are any loose buds on the plants that are partly dead, they will also be shaken off and caught in the stream of air flowing upwardly through the hood.

being sufficient to destroy or kill them. They may then fall to the ground, or if desired, a suitable container such as a bag, may be connected to the open end 22and the screen 23 so as to collect thedestroyed insects. As the destroyer proceeds'the plants will then come in contact with the rear door 39, openthe insects are dislodged from the plants,

ing it outwardly toward the rear until the plant releases it and the door again swings into closed position by gravity. The door having side wings will prevent lateral inrush of air between the door and the rear end of the hood. During the passage of a plant within the hood,'besides shaking the plant as a whole by the agitator bars, the heads of the plants, as they swingupwardly from contact with an upperwall 58 of' the widened portion 36 of the hood, will cause the heads of the plants to strike against the.

baffle bar 4849. This strong impact of the heads of the plants-against the bar will further dislodge insects that cling with greater tenacity to the head. I

a While we have herein described and shown upon the drawing a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction, details and arrangements of parts shown and described, but that other constructions, details and arrangements of parts are comprehended by the invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

-Having now described our invention, we claim I .1. An insect destroyer comprising a support movable'over the ground and plants, a hood carried by the support and operating to enclose plants during the movement of the support, a suction device connected with the interior of the hood for drawing air and insects therefrom into the suction device, agitators in the hoodofor vibratingthe plants I and dislodgin insects therefrom, and means operated by the agitators.

2. An insect destroyer comprising a support movable over the ground and plants, a hood carried by the support and operating to enclose plants during the movement of the draft of air for operating the support, a suction device connectedwith the interior of the hood for drawing air and insects therefrom into the suction device, agitators in the hood for vibrating the plants and dislodging insects therefrom, and means for operating the agitators, said last mentioned means including means operated by the draught of air from the hood to the l suction device 'for' operating said agitators.

3. An insect destroyer comprising a sup- I port movable. over the ground and plants, a

hood carried by the support and operating to enclose plants during the movement of y the support, a suction device connected with the interior of the hood for drawing airand insects therefrom into the suction device,

agitators in the hood for vibrating the plants and dislodging insects therefrom, and means for operating the agitators, said last men tioned means including a wind mill located in the path of flow of air from the hood to the suction device for operating said agitators.

4. An insect destroyer comprising a sup port movable over the ground and plants, a hood hinged to the support and operable to enclose plants during the moving of the support, means connected to the support and to the hood for holding the hood in raised or lowered position with regard to the support and the ground, a suction device on the sup port, means adjustably connecting the hoodto the suction device, said connecting means having cooperating relatively slidable mem-V hers whereby the connection between the hood an'the suction device is maintained substantially sealed, said members being curved on an are generated about the axis of the hinge connection between the hood "and the support.

5. An insect destroying device comprising 1 a support movable over the ground and plants, a hood hinged to the support and operable to enclose plants during'the moving of the support, means connected'to the support and to the hood for holding the hood in raised or lowered position'with regard to the support and the ground, agitators in the hood for vibrating the plant and dislodging' insects therefrom, and a suction device on the support, means adjustably connecting the hood to the suction device, said connecting means having cooperating lrelatively hood carried by the support and comprising side walls" having the lower edges thereof located close to the ground, said hoodhaving means connected to the support and to the hood for holding the hood in raised or low ered position, end doors connected to the side walls of said hoodfand operable to open when coming in contact with plants to close by inherent weight thereof to aid in enclos ing the plants during the action of the suc-j 01011 means in the hood, agitators in' said hood to vibrate and dislodge insects from nected to the hood to create a draft through tween the hood and the suction device is plants and means for creating a suction, a

said plant, said suction. means being con- 3 the hood for removing'insects from the plants, one of said doors having side wings movable adjacent the side walls of the hood. to substantially prevent entry of air into the hood between the side walls thereof in the last mentioned door.

7. In an insect destroying device compriss ing a support movable over the ground and plants and means for creating a suction, a hood carried by the support and. comprising side walls having the lower edges thereof located close to the ground, end doors connected to said side walls and operable to open when coming in contact with plants and to close by inherent weightthereof to aid'in enclosing the plants during the. action of the suctioirmeans in the hood, said suc tion.-means-being connected to the hood to create a vdraft through the hood for V,remov-- 1 ing insects from the plants, one of said doors having side wings movable adjacent the side walls of the hood to substantially'prevent r entry of air into the hood between'thefside walls thereof and the last mentioned door.

8. In an insect destroying device compris ing a support movable over the ground and 7 .over a cotton plant or the like, and means i for creating a suction, a hood carried bythe support and having downwardly extending side walls and end doors, said doorsbeing mounted on said'hood so as to, be automatically opened by the pressing of the plant thereagainst, means to normally vclose the doors, means rfor preventiiig in-rush of air between the doors and said side wallswhen the doors are in open position, said suction,

means connected to the hood to'cause a draft ofair upwardly through the hood for removing insects from the plants;

IIIWIJCIIBSS whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names to this specification WILLIAM-o; BLANKS. I

'HOWARD'F. SNYDER:

JOHN MIKULASEK. 

